I have 10 baby discus in a five foot tank (upto 2") i was changing 30% water every 4 to five days, went to do a water change yesterday, tested the water first for ph, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia etc. and everything was perfect. should you just change water for the sake of it or when it needs changing.

My opinion is water changes are vital to good growth and health,along with high quality food fed to them across the day,I have 6 melons and 3 pigeons of around 2to 3 inches in a 30x18x18,they are fed 6 times a day and 70% water changed daily.

i was out fish shopping yesterday, went into an old fav, the guy in there had a tank full of pigeons in very good nick, been bred + raised in tap water, nowt else added whatsoever!

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WHO'S YA DADDY

but why do we change water... if it is for good quality, then how do we judge the quality.. and if it is for good temp. ph. etc. why change it if these are good. also surely you should not overdo the quantity, i would assume we still need good continuity of water.

tis beyond me matey, im of the opinion " if its good, why alter it" but then again i know nowt bout discus...

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WHO'S YA DADDY

but why do we change water... if it is for good quality, then how do we judge the quality.. and if it is for good temp. ph. etc. why change it if these are good. also surely you should not overdo the quantity, i would assume we still need good continuity of water.
my fish are kept in tap water, i live in northamptonshire, which i think has just the right hardness/softness etc. for good discus water. i also have excellent plant growth without too much algae, no additives whatsover

i have kept koi carp, community and african cichlids for 32 over years all in tap water. no undue probs..

That seems like a hell of a lot of water changes and hard work to me,( but I have never kept discus) wheres our successful DISCUS BREEDER, celebrity ,lol MR ROBERT POPE < IM sure we would all like to see his views.

Most discus keepers do similar. Maybe not quite as much water (though some do almost 100% changes) but Ray is growing these fish on from young meaning lots of food so lots of water changing.
Discus are worth the effort, so it isn't hard work. I'd happily be doing it if I had the time.

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thanks a lot ROB C (If you dont ask then you dont know)